CEBU CITY - The Cebu City government announced the formation of Task Force Pabahay, aimed at reclaiming city-owned properties currently occupied illegally, to facilitate infrastructure improvements and provide housing for the homeless. Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia stated that the initiative would focus on lands intended for roads and open spaces misused as parking areas.
According to Philippines News Agency, Acting Mayor Garcia emphasized the necessity of the task force for safeguarding and properly transferring the properties to the city’s name. Garcia highlighted the issue with properties that have yet to be officially transferred under the city's jurisdiction, pointing out that such status impedes vital infrastructure developments like road widening, as these lands are still considered private.
The task force will consist of the Department of General Services, responsible for managing all related documents; the City Assessor's Office, which handles the tax declarations; and city engineers tasked with surveying the properties. Councilor Jerry Guardo also commented on the initiative, noting the increasing congestion on city roads, which he attributed to illegal structures and occupants causing narrower and more trafficked roadways.
Guardo further mentioned the potential use of reclaimed lands for constructing residential buildings for families currently without homes and living on the streets. The move by the city government aims to address both the infrastructural challenges and the pressing issue of homelessness in Cebu City.